Week 3 in the MTC

Querida Familia,

This week has been busy but normal. On Saturday we had to do this thing called TRC, which is basically we teach a volunteer for 20 minutes. But they don't pretend to be an investigator, so you're trying to teach this fluent RM who knows everything already and it was really hard. The brother that Sister Carroll and I were teaching wanted to talk about "oomilge" and we couldn't figure out what that was even when he read a scripture about it... (turns out it was "humilde" or something that means humility). So that was hard and I didn't like it.

On Sunday we did a temple walk again. Elder Cluff's brother showed up so we met his niece. It was weird to see a baby. Oh, and we took pictures with a Portugal flag!

Sunday night's devotional was the BYU's Men's Chorus. It was really really good but kind of strange because I recognized/knew several of them.
I feel like I haven't improved much in speaking Portuguese, but I can understand more and more every day. I have even started thinking in Portuguese when I'm listening to our teachers - it's super weird. I don't translate what they're saying but I understand it in my brain. Except for there are a couple of really confusing words- mostly "mas" because it means "more" in Spanish but "but" in Portuguese.
OH on Monday I changed my earrings for the first time! It freaked me out and I don't like looking at the HOLES in my ears and maybe I'll get used to it but for now it's still gross.
On Wednesday(?) after lunch our district went to get mail and I saw Aunt Mardi! It was kind of surreal. Also I saw Joseph by the temple today (and I got to find out about his mission call!). It was nice to see them but Joe hugged me and I felt like a sinner. :)
One thing I love about the MTC/a mission is that I can read the scriptures for hours and hours and not have to worry about homework or whatever else. I can just focus on learning about the gospel all day e'eryday.
We still get too much candy here.

(me in a red shirt with a Dove wrapper I got that says "you look great in red").

But I have actually lost 2 pounds so that's weird. Maybe because we are doing well at going to the gym. We've only missed once.
Since BYU's winter semester just ended, some of the teachers' schedules are changing. One of our teachers is switching... It's kind of sad, but we are going to get a teacher who served in Portugal! So we will finally be able to learn the right accent and pronunciations. But Sister Carroll and I realized we're going to be sad when we go to Portugal - we're going to miss our district here SO much. But we will also be excited. I feel like that's how a mission just is...
I was so happy to get a letter from Jeremy! It was only like 4 sentences but I really liked it. Thanks for all the mail and emails :)
I love you all SO much! Have a great week. Amo voces
Sister Gidney